Founder and Chairman, Astani Enterprises Inc.

THE LATEST:The founder of Beverly Hills-based Astani Enterprises Inc., Astani has acquired and developed more than $2 billion in multifamily buildings and condominiums, including 7,500 apartment units. Over the past year, he traveled to a refugee camp with 20 students and faculty as part of USC’s Viterbi School of Engineering outreach program focused on innovation in design. In the wake of November’s devastating Woolsey Fire, Astani is helping

residential rebuilding efforts in Malibu.

BACKGROUND: Astani came to the United States 40 years ago from Iran and earned a master’s degree in industrial and systems engineering from USC. He is on the boards of the Pacific Council for International Policy as well as the Viterbi School and the Lusk Center for Real Estate Development at USC. He supports Dorsey High School, Skid Row Housing Trust and Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Young Ambassador initiative.

WORTH NOTING: Astani donated $17 million to USC in 2007, a gift that created the USC Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

YEARS ON THE LA500: 2